LTC has /g/ (4chan's technology board) to thank. Bitcoins are a hot topic there and everyone is going on about "DON'T MISS THE NEXT BOAT! START MINING LITECOIN!" and the fact they have a drug marketplace now.

My current dream for Bitcoins/Litecoins is to open a music related business such as a venue or a recording studio.

Namecoins also are now trading at .008 BTC, or ~$0.80, which is a 100% price spike above the previous months, and certainly higher in government currency than they have ever been. Alternate currencies may be seen by some investors as having more upward potential than already-recognized Bitcoin.